ISLAMABAD: Declaring another Indian High Commission staffer persona non grata, Pakistan has asked the diplomat to leave the country within 24 hours, the second such expulsion this month.
The Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday summoned Charge d’Affaires Geetika Srivastava and tasked her with a protest march.
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office in Islamabad on Thursday, Indian Charge d’Affaires Geetika Srivastava was summoned by the Ministry of External Affairs. A protest letter was handed over to the Indian Charge d’Affaires and instructions were given to Indian diplomatic personnel to refrain from indulging in negative activities.
The statement further said that “an official of the Indian High Commission in Pakistan has been declared persona non grata. The Indian official was found to be involved in activities against his diplomatic status. The said Indian official has been ordered to leave Pakistan within 24 hours.”
A day earlier, India had also expelled a Pakistani official working at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi on charges of espionage.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the Pakistani mission staff has been declared “persona non grata” for engaging in activities not in keeping with their official status and has been given 24 hours to leave India.
On May 13, India expelled another Pakistani official for allegedly engaging in espionage.
Following India’s action, Pakistan also expelled an Indian staff member posted at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
Tensions between Pakistan and India had escalated after the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people. Following which, India launched missile strikes on civilian targets in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir on May 7, after which Pakistan retaliated by destroying several targets, including several Indian fighter jets.
An alarmed India then requested the United States to intervene in the ceasefire agreement with Pakistan.
On May 10, hostilities ended with an understanding to halt military operations after talks between the Director Generals of Military Operations of both sides.
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